At The Party

First we went out to Shane/Dale's daughter Elizabeth's place to see her pets. She has a Kune Kune pig, without a doubt one of the ugliest animals I've ever seen; 25 chooks [chickens]; 2 dogs; 2 horses; budgies [parakeets]; fish tanks; frog tank; sheep; all kinds of wild birds; peacocks and about a million miles out in the country. We then went on over to the party where there were about 40-50 people and lots of food. We remained at the party for several hours. I ate mutton [about a 2 year old lamb], ham and lots of different types of cold salads and some yummy desserts [I'll try to get some recipes for you].

I'll post some more pictures for you in a little while.

Here ya go: http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v499/bjcotton/New%20Zealand/

ET Call Home

I spoke with Fredia this morning. Apparently she isn't doing to good. The Dr. gave her an inhalor to prevent bronchitis from turning into pneumonia, which she is prone to. She is also having dizzy spells and has fallen a couple of times. Two of my nieces look in on her every day, but she is alone at night. I suggested that she go up to our sister Marilee's and stay with her. I gave Shane a heads up that we might not be staying the entire 6 weeks. We'll have to see what happens.

We are going to a friend of Dale's and Shane's birthday party this afternoon. Apparently he has slaughtered 4 yearling sheep to BBQ. I do hope it clears off and doesn't rain. Guess I'll be tasting NZ lamb for the first time today. I'll let you know what I think of it.

I bought Fredia a mohair shawl, not thinking she can't wear wool. So I fear someone else will be getting a nice shawl. Bought myself 4 pair of cotton shorts which I just figured out I paid way to much for...I won't tell you how much as I've been berating myself all morning about it.

I prepared tea for us last night. I made Lorraine's Leek, Gruyere, and Cream dish, of course I bastardized it with bell peppers and celery. All seemed to really enjoy it. Will probably make my Pork Stir-Fried Rice tomorrow, which the rice isn't really stir-fried. I marinated the pork in Cabernet Sauvignon, Sesame oil and Balsamic last night. Sure smells good.

We visited a Tourism office yesterday and came away with a whole arm full of brochures. Carol got a little stuffed toy Kiwi bird that you squeeze and it chirps; also, got a card with the bird on the front which when you open it, it makes the Kiwi bird sound.

We stopped by an Espresso/pastry place yesterday and I'm sure when we left they had to clean the drool marks off the display case glass. Oh yes, Jean, I asked the owner about the Sausage Rolls. They use the phyllo dough to wrap them in. The meat is already cooked and well drained before rolling the pastry dough. I asked if they used phyllo dough and they didn't understand what I meant. They finally said phyllo pastry?

Well, I've got to go shower and shave for the party. See y'all later.

shopping day-Carol

Carol

Hi everyone. Had a day of shopping. Shane threatened to lock me in the car or take my purse away. Which would have done no good since Bill has the money. I got a nice silver and abalone bracelet, wrapping paper, bows, face creams and a sweet. I don't think that was to bad. Much better than Bill and Shane getting groceries. Those guys spent 190 New Zealand. Of course 2 bottles of wine were for me. Bill got 2 ice creams. I bought Dale.....and some waffle cones.

Some little midgies are biting Bill and I at night. Mostly on the face and neck. I told him people might think we're bringing them measles or something.

Shane is such a fibber. He gets me everytime. Then I look at him and know I've been taken in again.

The weather is getting warmer. Today was very nice until we got into the car. Then it was hot.

Bill will be fixing tea soon. Don't know what it will be. He and Shane talked about so many things I lost track.

Must call home tonigh and see if Ronnie is home from elk hunting.

Bye for now.

A side trip

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v499/bjcotton/New%20Zealand/

Today we went on another sightseeing trip up and down some high hills and along the Auckland coast road. I can again verify that there are some huge private "summer cottages" as I call them. You could put a family of 10 in some of them and they'd have trouble finding one another.

These Norfolk pines are really beautiful and are quite plentiful here. In a couple of days we are again going up into the "mountains" to photograph the small ferns here. They are the size of trees...huge things. I also want to photograph some of the noxious plants along the roads, they are beautiful and closely resemble wild iris', both lilac colored and white. There are many lovely plants and flowers here. Another noxious plant is the Banana Passion Fruit. The fruit is apparently edible, but doesn't compare to the real Passion Fruit.

We ate in a small Greek Sidewalk Restaurant for lunch today. Shane had a Greek Salad, Dale had a pizza, Carol and I had Rice Pilaf with Sauteed Chicken and Mushrooms. Shane says the salad was fresh and exceptionally good. All I could see were a couple of different lettuces, red onion, tomato, cukes, Feta and half a lemon. There was olive oil on the salad. I couldn't tell what was with/on the pizza. The Pilaf sucked, just plain rice, but the sauteed chicken and mushrooms were very tasty. It was topped with Walnut sauce which couldn't hold a candle to Jean's. I had "lemonade" to drink, which turned out to be a clear liquid with somewhat of a lemon taste. Shane said if I wanted lemonade such as we have in the states I would have to order lemon juice.

I fired up both of my coffee makers this morning, one for coffee and the other for my beloved green tea [infusion].

We have another party to attend Saturday. One of Dale and Shane's friends, a bbq. Either lamb or pork I'm given to understand.

I'm off to grocery shop, will talk with you tomorrow.

Let's Talk About Stuff

I thought if I titled my post like I title my emails we could talk about anything we wanted without going off topic :D Clever of me huh?

We went to a Cheese store in Mercer, NZ yesterday and did some tasting and buying. The cheese was cut directly from a round about 4" thick and 14" across. I bought some Gruyere, Mature Gouda and Walnut cheese [I don't know what the basic cheese was, but it had chunks of walnut in it..Jean it had the taste of your walnut sauce]. We tasted cracked pepper cheese, cumin cheese, chive and garlic, garlic and I think that's about it. Must admit though that the lady running the store was an old grump. As Dale would say, "Well, bugger the old cow!" Their way of speaking here can be quite quaint :D

I got a lovely mohair [I think it is anyway] shawl for Fredia. Cost about $83 USD. It appears to be a rather large hole knit/crochet that the wind would blow right through, but the lady said it was really quite warm.

Their sausage rolls are quite delicious here. I think most of the grease has been drained/blotted from the sausage before it is put in the roll.

It's a beautiful day with scattered white clouds and the wind blowing like crazy. A nice day to sit in the sun and burn...don't think so! It feels like it's about 60F.

We are supposed to go get my automatic drip coffee maker(s) later today or tomorrow. We're on the way...bye

Migraine Day, Carol

What a day. Typed a message and forgot to publish it so now get to redo it.

Slept half the day. Woke with a blinding headache. Ate breakfast and went back to bed. Woke up and went sight seeing and to stores for things I wanted. Found a pashens but couldn't find another I liked. That was a craft store. At home a craft store would have oil paints, beads and what not. Next to the chemists (drug store). Couldn't get my medicine without a prescription. Which I didn't have. Have to wait for my daughter (Crissy or Janis) to mail me some. Then to a cheese store. Ronnie (my husband) would love that. Large wheels of cheese of different kinds and you could taste them. Then to a furniture store. Not your regular furniture store. Hand made things. Found a vase I liked. The man said its bamboo. You cut off the roots and the stem. What is left is a pot bellied vase. Laquered and stained, I supposed. It was a lovely shade of red like cherrywood.

Finally got so ill feeling I had to ask to go home. Took a pain pill and slept for awhile and woke feeling better. Thank goodness.

Also found earrings for Marilee. Will for more later as I'm not sure these are what she wants.

I love everyone. Yes, even you Jean.

A little sightseeing

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v499/bjcotton/New%20Zealand/

I added some photos yesterday after our sightseeing trip. In the middle of Auckland are some extinct volcanos. Our trip included a journey to the top of one where as you turned 360 degrees you were still seeing parts of Auckland. Although it is a city of 1 million people it is quite spread out and extends over many miles/kilometers. It's kind of like the Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner, "water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink." As we drove through neighborhoods, there were many magnificient homes, truly huge and expensive. You were as apt to see an insignificant home cheek by jowl next to it. Shane, Carol and I drove through the country and he pointed out some newly constructed homes that were large and obviously cost lots of $. As in town, there is liable to be what could be considered a shanty on the next lot.

As Shane and I strolled around the property here, he would point out a plant and say it was a noxious weed, tell me what it was and I would say, we put those in pots and grow them as a house plant...Wandering Jew was one of them; another that we plant in our flower gardens was Oxalis [probably spelled that wrong]. I asked him what these cute birds were that are literally all over the place and he said they were Myna birds and a nuisance. Another pretty bird here I wanted a picture of was a Magpie and another nuisance. The have another lovely bird that is an irridescent dark blue, a Paka..something or other [a Swamp Hen] that is about as big as a chicken and I asked him if they were good to eat. He said, "Oh yes, you put them is a large pot, put some stones in the bottom, put the hen in, cover it with water and boil/simmer for an hour or so, throw the hen away and eat the rocks!" If you like eels, there are plenty in the stream that runs through the property. It's a really lovely country and the place here is quite soothing.

While I've been trying to complete this blog entry, first Carol came and started yammering, then Dale came in to join in. I am the type of person that cannot study if music is playing, can't think and type if someone is talking, etc. So, I said, "Why don't you two go into the office and talk while I finish this." Dale said, "Did you just tell me to bugger off?" I said that I had. They have been gone about 2 minutes and I'm done!

See you later.